Ebola Treatment Center Staff Strike Halts Operations in DRC

A strike by dozens of staff at a key Ebola treatment center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has halted operations, compounding a severe outbreak that has now spread to two additional provinces. The walkout at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province began on Monday, July 13, 2026, with workers protesting months of unpaid wages.

The strike involves epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers, and gravediggers, bringing the facility at the epicenter of the outbreak to a standstill. One health worker at the center said staff had not been paid for two months. The labor action coincides with official confirmation that the virus has spread to the northeastern provinces of Haut-Uele and Tshopo, bringing the total number of affected provinces to five.

The outbreak, concentrated in northern DRC, is the worst in Africa's history. According to the latest figures, there have been 1,926 confirmed cases and 702 deaths. The United Nations has warned the crisis has pushed nearly one million people into poverty and could cause severe economic damage across the continent.

The response has been hampered by multiple challenges beyond the strike. Paramilitary rebels controlling parts of...